Spring structure for seat or bed bottoms.



' PATENTED OUT. 6, 1903.

L. H; LAWHON, SPRING STRUCTURE FOR SEAT 0R BED BOTTOMS.

AEPLIOATION EILED JULY 1.1903.

K0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented October 6, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE H. LAWHON, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,983, dated October 6, 1903.

Application filed July 1, 1903.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE H. LAW'HON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring Structures for Seat or Bed Bottoms, of which the followingis aspecification.

This invention relates to spring structures for bed or seat bottoms.

The object of the invention is in a ready,

simple, thoroughly feasible, and practical manner and Without in the least detracting from the resilient qualities of the spring elements to connect the said elements in such manner as positively to preclude possibility of lateral play or vertical or horizontal separation from their assembling means, thereby to prevent possibility of puncture of a su perposed support, such as a mattress or the like, and consequent discomfort in use.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a spring structure for bed or seat bottoms, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. 1 I g The present invention is designed as an improvement upon a spring structure for which I secured Letters Patent of the'United States, dated December 9, 1902, Serial No. 715,489.

Generally stated, the invention embodies a plurality of spring elements, such as the ordinaryhour-glass-shaped type, frame elements, and longitudinal locking-wires and brace-wires and transverse locking-wires, the whole being associated in such manner as to cause the spring elements to retain the position in which they are normally disposed. The terms longitudinal and transverse are employed merely for the purpose of convenience, it being understood that they are interchangeable in meaning-that is to say, where the longitudinal locking-wires and brace-wires and transverse locking-wires are referred to these elements may be transposed, so that what in one structure would be a transverse element j in another structure Wouldbe a longitudinal element.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like SerialNmlGSfilii. aromas.)

characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of eming the same into practical operation, it be ing'understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, and in these drawings Figure l is a view in plan of a spring structure constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing, more clearly the manner in which the parts of the structure are assembled.

Referring to thedrawings, 1 designates the frame members, which may be constructed of metallic rods in the usual manner, and 2 the spring elements, which are of the ordinary type of hourglass-shaped coiled springs. As these parts may be of the usual or any preferred construction, detailed llus'tration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

In explaining the present invention the upper side of the structure will be described, it being understood that the under side is a counterpart thereof, except that the disposition of the parts is reversed, so that what on the upper side of-the structure would be described, for instance, as under on thelower side of the structure would be described as over.

The novelty of the present invention resides in the manner in which the spring elements 2 are connected, so that while being readily responsive in yielding to weight, thus to present a thoroughly resilient-structure, such elements are positively prevented from transverse or.longitudinal movement or play with relation to each other in the use of the structure.

the manner of connecting the spring elements 2 with the frame-wires will be described. The brace-wires 3 employed for this purpose are provided at intervals in their the centers of the terminal whirls of the spring elements disposed along the sides with loops 4, said loops being passed from beneath the said terminal whirls to the frame-wires, the crests of the loops being turned under and partially around said wires, as shown at bodiment of the invention capable of carry-- Beginning with one side of the structure,

length corresponding to the distance between 5. This order is maintained throughout the entire length of the structure or width, as the case may be, and serves effectively to hold the said terminal whirls of the spring elements in position. The intermediate bracewires 6 are provided with loops similar to those in the wires 3, and these loops are passed beneath the adjacent terminal whirls of the spring elements and are held positively associated therewith through the medium of longitudinal locking-wires 7, said wires being provided with kinks 8, which pass upward through the loops 6 between their crests and the inner walls of the terminal whirls and are secured at their ends to the frame-wires, as shown at 9, the brace-Wires 6 being secured to the frame-wires at 10 in any preferred manner, as by being turned one or more times therearound. To reiterate, it will be observed that the longitudinal bracewires 3 are passed under and over the terminal whirls of the spring elements, whereas the intermediate brace-wires 6 are passed over and under the said whirls, this latter arrangement being requisite in order that the transverse locking-wires 11 may subserve the function for which they are designed. These wires 11 are secured at their terminals to the frame-wires and pass under the loops 5 of the side brace-wires 3 and under the terminal whirl of the spring elements adjacent to the frame-wires, thence through the kinks 8 and over the said terminal whirl, thereby securely binding the loops 6, terminal whirls of the spring elements, and longitudinal lockingwires securely together, this order being maintained throughout the entire width or length of the spring structure, as the case may be. By the manner of disposing the kinks of the longitudinal locking-wires between the crests of the longitudinal brace-wiresfi and theinner faces of the terminal whirls of the spring elements, together with the employment of the transverse locking-wires, the spring elements are positively combined in such man- 'ner as while permitting ready yielding and return under pressure and release of pressure they will positively be prevented from any lateral or longitudinal movement in use, and, further, the possibility of disconnection between the top whirls of the spring elements and their locking elements is effectively prevented.

While the spring structure herein shown is adapt-able for nse'in connection with either seats or couches or bed-springs, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited in this particular, as it may be employed in any position where its use will be found desirable or advantageous.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In a spring structure, a frame and a plurality of spring elements, longitudinal bracewires connecting the elements, said wires being provided with loops passed under the terminal whirl of one element and beneath the like whirl of an adjacent element, transverse locking-wires disposed over the crests of the loops and the said terminal whirls, and longitudinal locking wires passed under the crest of the loops and over the transverse locking-wires.

2. A spring structure comprising a frame and a plurality of spring elements, longitudinal brace-wires having loops passed over and under the terminal whirls of one-series of spring elements and under the like whirls of an adjacent series, longitudinal lockingwiresdisposed under the crests of the loops and having kinks projecting upward between said crests and the whirls of the spring elements, and transverse locking-wires passed through the said kinks and over the crests of the loops and the terminal whirls of the spring elements.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LAV RENOE H. LAWHON.

Witnesses:

T. W. NEALON, C. METZGER. 

